Wine Storage

My wine cooler broke, and the temp now reads 74 degrees. Is this an ok temp for my wine for the next few days until the new cooler arrives? Would storing my wine in the refridgerator be better, or would that be too cold?

I don't have a cooler and keep my AC set at 80. I know it's not optimal, but when I buy a couple of bottles will they be ok for a couple of weeks at that temp or should I store even the reds in the big fridge?

To know for sure, look closely at the corks when you extract them. If they're regularly stained with wine more than, say, a third of the way up the side, chances are your storage is too warm. (If they're stained all the way to the top or if wine is seeping from the bottles, it's almost certain the wines are cooked.)

Also, be on the lookout for stewed fruit aromas and flavours -- another telltale sign. You could also do a test: buy two bottles of the same wine; store one in the fridge, the other in your regular storage; open both at the same time and compare their corks, bouquets and tastes.